Va. Gov. McDonnell Defends GOP's Anti-Abortion Plank

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is defending the Republican Party Platform Committee's anti-abortion plank that does not include an exception for rape, saying no one should be surprised the GOP is a "pro-life party."

"I don't think it's any surprise that the Republican Party is the party that embraces the dignity and sanctity of life," McDonnell said on ABC's "This Week, according to a report Monday in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "We're a pro-life party; the Democrats are pro-choice."

"What matters in this race . . . is how we're going to get the greatest country on earth back to work and out of debt," added McDonnell, who heads the GOP platform committee.

The Times-Dispatch noted the GOP platform "affirms that an unborn child has a fundamental right to life that cannot be infringed" and that Republicans favor legislation and a constitutional amendment extending protections to "unborn children. "

McDonnell said the party did not make a judgment in the platform on an exception for rape, even though Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said he would not be against abortion in cases of rape.

McDonnell described the platform plank as simply "a general proposition to say we support human life."